How Can I Thank Thee Lord
How can I thank Thee, Lord
How Can I Thank Thee Lord is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1602) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in CW93 460, ELH 423, lsb 703, lw 385.
The hymn reflects Lutheran emphasis on gratitude as the proper human response to God's unmerited grace, moving from acknowledgment of divine benefits to personal commitment of thanksgiving. It embodies the Protestant principle that true thanksgiving finds expression in devoted living and vocational faithfulness rather than external works.
History & Background
Martin Behm's German hymn 'Wie kann ich dir genug vergelten' was published in his 1602 hymnal. Catherine Winkworth's English translation appeared in her 1858 collection 'Lyra Germanica,' becoming standard in Lutheran hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship — 460
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 423
- Lutheran Service Book — 703
- Lutheran Worship — 385
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 417
Translation
Bulletin Note
Martin Behm (1557–1622) composed this hymn in 1602 during the turmoil of religious conflict. It reflects the Lutheran conviction that grace received demands gratitude expressed through faithful, devoted living in the world.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Law-Gospel movement beautifully: it begins in amazement at divine grace and moves naturally toward consecrated living, showing how gratitude becomes the proper human response that fulfills the Law's deepest intention.
Background Research
David Denicke (1603–1680), born at Zittau, a town judge's son. He studied philosophy and law at Wittenberg and Jena and taught law at Königsberg, then travelled in Holland, England and France (1624–28). He was tutor to the sons of Duke Georg of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1629), later a consistory member at Hanover (1642), and died there in 1680. With Justus Gesenius he edited the Hanover hymnals (1646–1659), where his hymns appeared without his name, a lay jurist shaping a church's song. 'Was kann ich doch für Dank' was first in the Hannover Gesang-Buch of 1648 (no. 154), eight stanzas; the index says c. 1657, so correct to 1648. Its seventh stanza is altered from Heermann's 'Herr Jesu, führe mich' (1630), which TLH counts as st 6. Theme: Ps 116:12, 'What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits?' (from the first line; Hymnary doesn't say). J. C. Jacobi made an early English version (1725); Crull's is 1923.
Sources: hymnary.org (Denicke_David, citing Julian).
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Easter 6 (2×)
- Trinity 5 (2×)
- Trinity 22 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 24 (1×)
- Proper 27 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
A hymn of thanks for conversion, by David Denicke, the Hanoverian court official and hymnal editor, with a stanza by Heermann. It is one of the clearest statements of monergism (God alone converts) in any hymnal. The singer thanks God for patience while he was dead in sin (st. 1); confesses conversion was 'Thy work alone' (st. 2); admits he could fall but had no strength to rise (st. 3); praises God for raising him and washing his sins (st. 4); asks the Spirit's help against falling (st. 5) and God's guidance on the narrow way (st. 6); and prays to the Triune God (st. 7). It is Formula of Concord Article II set to verse.
Central theme: Thanks for conversion as God's work alone, from spiritual death to new life, and prayer for preservation
Structure
Seven eight-line stanzas (6.7.6.7.6.6.6.6). Patience with the dead sinner (1) — conversion God's work (2) — inability (3) — raised and washed (4) — the Spirit's help (5) — guidance (6) — Trinitarian prayer (7).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: 'dead in many sins,' kindling God's anger daily, works unable to appease, no strength to rise (1, 3). Gospel: 'Thy work alone,' mercy new each morning, a heart new-born, sins washed away (2, 4).
Confessional Connections
FC II: in conversion the natural will is dead and can contribute nothing; conversion is wholly God's work through Word and Spirit (st. 2-3). 'Though I could fall from grace… I had no strength to rise' — FC II.7, 73: man can by his own will reject grace but cannot accept it; resistance is from us, conversion from God. Dead works abhorred (Heb 9:14). The Spirit preserves (FC XI).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Thanksgiving; confirmation; Reformation; teaching on conversion.
Historical Notes
Denicke (1603-1680), co-editor of the Hanover hymnals (1646-1659). Stanza 6 is from Heermann. Crull translated it in 1923.
About the Tune
O GOTT, DU FROMMER GOTT (Meiningen, 1693).
Scripture References
Ps 116:12 Rom 2:4 Eph 2:1-5 Ps 7:11 Jer 31:18 Phil 1:6 Col 1:13 Lam 3:22-23 Ezek 36:26 Rom 3:20 Gal 2:16 Rom 5:6 Eph 2:5-6 Acts 22:16 Heb 9:14 Rom 8:26 1 Cor 10:12 Ps 73:24 Prov 3:5-6 Matt 7:14 2 Cor 13:14
Stanza by Stanza
How can I thank you, Lord, for all your loving kindness, that you patiently bore with me in my blindness? When I lay dead in many sins and trespasses, holy God, I kindled your anger every day.
'What shall I render to the LORD?' (Ps 116:12). God's 'patience' (Rom 2:4) with the blind sinner. 'Dead in many sins and trespasses' — Eph 2:1, not sick but dead. 'I kindled… Thine anger every day' — the sinner provokes God continually (Ps 7:11). Gratitude begins with honesty about what we were.
- Scripture
- Ps 116:12, Rom 2:4, Eph 2:1-3, Ps 7:11
- Imagery & language
- Blindness; deadness; kindled anger.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — spiritual death; Gospel — God's patience.
- Connection to previous
- Patience.
It is your work alone that I am now converted; you have asserted your power over Satan's work in me. Your mercy and grace, rising new each morning, have turned my stony heart into a newborn heart.
Monergism stated plainly: 'Thy work alone that I am now converted' (Jer 31:18, 'bring me back that I may be restored'; FC II). Conversion is a power struggle won by God over Satan (Col 1:13; Luke 11:21-22). 'Mercy… afresh each morn' (Lam 3:22-23). 'Stony heart… heart new-born' — Ezek 36:26; John 3:5.
- Scripture
- Jer 31:18, Col 1:13, Luke 11:21-22, Lam 3:22-23, Ezek 36:26, John 3:5
- Imagery & language
- God's work; stone to flesh.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — conversion by God alone.
- Connection to previous
- Conversion.
I could only grieve you, Lord, and displease you with my sins; my works could not appease you to atone for sin. Though I could fall from grace and choose the way of sin, I had no strength to rise and begin a new life.
The heart of FC II in four lines: 'Though I could fall from grace and choose the way of sin, I had no strength to rise' — the natural will has power to resist and reject God, but none to turn to him (FC II.7, 73). 'My works could not appease Thee' — works cannot atone (Rom 3:20; AC XX). This asymmetry is the Lutheran answer to synergism: damnation is our fault, salvation is God's work.
- Scripture
- Rom 3:20, Gal 2:16, Rom 5:6, Rom 8:7-8, 1 Cor 2:14
- Imagery & language
- Fall vs. rise.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — inability; works cannot atone.
- Connection to previous
- Inability.
But you have raised me to joy and exultation and clearly shown me the way of salvation. My sins are washed away; for this I thank you, Lord; and with heart and soul I hate all dead works.
'But' — the Gospel. 'Raised me up' — Eph 2:5-6: 'made us alive together with Christ… raised us up with him.' 'Sins washed away' (Acts 22:16) — Baptism. 'All dead works are abhorred' — Heb 9:14: Christ's blood purifies 'our conscience from dead works'; works done to earn salvation are now seen as dead.
- Scripture
- Eph 2:5-6, Acts 22:16, Heb 9:14, 1 Cor 6:11
- Imagery & language
- Raised up; washed; dead works.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — new life and forgiveness.
- Connection to previous
- Raised.
Grant that your Spirit's help may always be given me so that I do not fall again and lose the way to heaven; that he may strengthen me in my weakness and always renew my heart to serve you willingly.
Perseverance depends on the Spirit (FC XI; Rom 8:26). 'Lest I should fall again' — the converted can fall (1 Cor 10:12; FC IV.31). 'Serve Thee willingly' — the renewed will cooperates as moved by the Spirit (FC II.65).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:26, 1 Cor 10:12, Phil 2:13, Ps 51:12
- Imagery & language
- Spirit's help; renewal.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — preservation by the Spirit.
- Connection to previous
- Preservation.
Guide and lead me, Lord, while I wander here below, so that I may follow you until I see you there. If I led myself I would soon go astray; but if you lead me I stay on the narrow way.
Heermann's stanza. Self-guidance leads astray (Prov 14:12; Jer 10:23); God's leading keeps us on 'the narrow way' (Matt 7:14; Ps 73:24).
- Scripture
- Ps 73:24, Prov 3:5-6, Jer 10:23, Matt 7:14
- Imagery & language
- Leading; narrow way.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God's guidance.
- Connection to previous
- Guidance.
Father, God of love, hear my prayer; Savior, Son of God, give me full salvation; and Holy Ghost, be my faithful guide so that I may serve you here and live with you there.
A Trinitarian conclusion: the Father hears, the Son saves, the Spirit guides — the three articles of the Creed in prayer. 'Serve Thee here and there with Thee abide' — life and eternity.
- Scripture
- 2 Cor 13:14, Matt 28:19, John 16:13
- Imagery & language
- Three addresses.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — prayer to the Trinity.
- Connection to previous
- Trinitarian prayer.
Themes
Gratitude and thanksgiving Stewardship and vows Divine grace Covenant response